Lightning causes house fire in Madison

A fire damaged a home on Oakhurst Drive Sunday night.

The Madison Fire Department responded to a house fire around 7:30 p.m. Sunday on Oakhurst Drive in Madison that left a house heavily damaged.

Homeowner Fred Nilsen said he and his wife, Debra, were watching television downstairs when they heard a “boom” that shook the house so hard, pictures fell off the wall.

“Lights went out on some things, but the washer and dryer were still going,” Nilsen said. “I went to the attic and there was about two feet of smoke, but I didn’t see any flames.”

He didn’t see the fire until he got to the upstairs stairway.

“It started on the garage wall by the power box,” Nilsen said.

All four residents, along with the family dog, made it out of the house safely. They were unable to save their pet bird.

As of now, the family is staying at a neighbor’s home that is out of town.

The family expressed their gratitude that everyone made it out safely, although they did lose a majority of their belongings.

“They’re stuff we’re going to miss, but we’re all here,” Nilson said.